NICOSIA, Dec 14 (AFP) - Hundreds of Greek Cypriots rallied in Nicosia on Tuesday, urging Cyprus to veto Turkey's bid for a start date on EU accession talks at a summit in Brussels this week.
The rally was organised by the Pancyprian Citizens Movement, which includes members of the governing coalition parties, but not the communists AKEL.
Around 800 people turned out to hear politicians argue that Nicosia must use the veto against Turkey if it refuses to recognise the Cyprus government, with which it has no diplomatic ties.
Large banners adorning the conference hall read: "The veto is a choice" and "don't force us to use the veto".
Campaigners have also paid for roadside billboard advertisements declaring: "Yes to the veto".
"We expect Turkey to comply and we expect the European Union to spell out Turkey's obligations. If not there is no other choice but to use the veto," veteran socialist Edek MP Vassos Lyssarides told the crowd.
Nicosia has threatened to veto Turkey's bid for a start date on EU talks if it refuses to normalise ties with the Greek Cypriot government at Friday's summit.
So far Ankara has shown no signs of giving way on the recognition issue.
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has said a decision will not be taken until the final hour on Friday when the position of all EU leaders is known.
Recent opinion polls indicate that around 60 percent of Greek Cypriots would back the veto against Turkey if no concessions are forthcoming.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup to join the island with Greece.
Only the southern part of the island joined the European Union on May 1, after Greek Cypriots rejected a UN blueprint to reunify Cyprus, which Turkish Cypriots in the breakaway north overwhelmingly backed.
12/14/2004 19:59 GMT - AFP